Indiana Farm Bureau welcomed three new district education and outreach coordinators who joined the INFB Women’s Leadership Committee (WLC) in 2023, working to educate the public through programs and events that promote a positive image of agriculture.
Representing District 6 is Amber Rushton of Wayne County. Rushton represents Delaware, Hamilton, Hancock, Henry, Marion, Randolph and Wayne counties. She replaces Julie Golliher, who took a role as a regional manager with Indiana Farm Bureau last year.
Rushton works for Farm Credit Mid-America, a financial services cooperative, as a closing specialist, providing a seamless loan closing experience for customers. She and her husband, Gary, live in Milton, Indiana, and are both very connected to the ag industry. They advocate for agriculture through their careers and volunteer time to Indiana FFA and the Wayne County 4-H board.
Another new member of the WLC is Mindy Orschell of Franklin County, who represents District 8. Orschell’s counties include Bartholomew, Brown, Decatur, Fayette, Franklin, Johnson, Rush, Shelby and Union. Orschell replaces Cindy Ramsey, who retired from the position in December.
Orschell originally got involved in INFB through the Young Farmers & Ag Professionals program. Since then, she has participated in INFB’s Agriculture in the Classroom, a grassroots program which helps kids understand where the food they eat is grown and how important farmers are to their daily lives, as well as advocacy trips to Washington D.C.
Orschell and her husband, Greg, farm corn, soybeans and beef cattle on their farm in Brookville, Indiana. She works as a tax accountant, preparing individual, farm and business tax returns, as well as business payroll and accounting. She also is the treasurer of the Franklin County Cattlemen’s Association, sits on the Franklin County Purdue Extension Board and is involved in several community and church fundraisers.
Representing District 9, which includes Crawford, Dubois, Gibson, Orange, Perry, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Warrick and Vanderburgh counties, is Sam Schwoeppe of Dubois County. Schwoeppe replaces Sheryl Seib, who retired from the position in December.
Schwoeppe serves on the INFB livestock and animal care policy advisory group. She also was a member of Indiana's delegation for the 2022 American Farm Bureau Federation ACE Summit in Washington, D.C. where women leaders engaged with lawmakers and advanced agricultural advocacy.
Schwoeppe is a fourth-generation farmer in Huntingburg, Indiana, where she and her husband, Darren, as well as their two sons, own a dairy farm. She also works for Feeding America as an agriculture food engagement senior manager where she works to convene food bank and community partners throughout the supply chain to build relationships and increase nutrition served to communities. Schwoeppe has served in various roles in the dairy community including a leader in 4-H, a supervisor for the Indiana Dairy Herd Improvement Association, and sitting on various industry boards.
Rushton, Orschell and Schwoeppe officially took office at the close of INFB’s State Convention in December 2022.
Categories: Indiana, Government & Policy